5 Tips To Lose Belly Fat
(And why it's critical to start getting rid of it today)

Pop Quiz: Which of the following type of body fat is most harmful to your health?

A) Underarm fat
B) Hips, thigh, and buttock fat
C) Abdominal fat
D) None of the above
E) All of the above

The Answer: C, Abdominal fat

The reason belly fat is the most harmful to your health is because it lies deep inside the body. Doctors call this “visceral fat” because it wraps around your "viscera"-your vital organs such as your heart, liver, lungs, and stomach. And, against conventional wisdom, it's not lifeless fat. It actually acts like an organ itself, generating hormones that can actually cause weight gain while preventing the production of healthy substances that can lead to weigh loss. What this fat ultimately does is cause us to age quicker and become vulnerable to disease.

But here's the good news: it's relatively easy to get rid of visceral fat. Why? Because, abdominal fat is metabolically very active. You're not stuck with it forever… you can burn it up!

Just follow these 5 important tips to banish your belly fat:

1. Move To The Music

Begin your way to a flat belly by amping up your cardio routine, and jazz it up with some music (try my downloadable audio workouts for maximum results)! Cardiovascular exercise, which is any activity that gets your heart rate up for an extended period of time, is an excellent way to burn fat and accelerate your metabolism. If you haven't been keeping a regular cardio routine, start one today. Go for a brisk walk or hike in the hills. And if you're a veteran cardio queen, add 10 more minutes to your regular routine. Take it to the next level and challenge yourself! By adding a little bit of music, studies show that you exercise longer and harder.

3. Drink From the Fountain of Youth

Adding resistance with weights to your workout allows you to increase your lean muscle mass and boost your resting metabolism, making you look and feel younger. You'll burn more even while you're sitting on the couch sleeping! Looking for a weight training exercise to help you tone up and lose weight? Try my Lift Weights to Lose Weight DVD series!

3. Guilt Free Escape

Don't forget to make time for rest and relaxation! Try meditative yoga or set aside 30 minutes a day to read a book in your favorite chair. You can also take a warm bath before bed. We need time-outs at least once a day to catch our breath for our bodies and minds. The less stress we have, the easier it is to control those stress-related hormones that tell the body to hold onto fat. New to yoga? Start at home with my Yoga Beginner's Kit (mat included!).

4. MUFAs are in!

You can chant it if you want (MOO-fah!) because MUFAS (monosaturated fatty acids) are in! Focus on nourishing your cells at each meal with a healthy unsaturated fat, such as those from nuts, olive oil, fish and even dark chocolate! Avoid the saturated and trans fats commonly found in processed, packaged foods and fatty cuts of meat. Try to keep your intake of healthy fats at approximately 30 percent of your daily caloric intake. Don’t be afraid – these healthy fats are the opposite effect of trans and saturated fats.

5. Throw away the scale

Focus on waist size, not pound size. If you're on a weight-loss plan or are about to start one, don't worry so much about what the scale reads. As you trim body fat and increase lean muscle mass, you might not see a huge difference on the scale right away. So instead of using that to gauge your progress, measure your waistline once a week and track your results. Chances are you'll see your waistline get smaller!

With these tips in mind, you'll not only shed the belly fat but you'll also feel lighter and more energetic.

Here’s to your health,

Kathy